Boswell, LaVenia by THE DAWNING (The Dawning Trilogy) Page B

pretty sure she would black out soon and discover this was another nightmare.  She could only hope.
                Salina looked scared which caused Jason to stare directly into her eyes and demand in a firm, low voice, “What is wrong with her?”
                Nervously and unwittingly Salina looked down at her phone that had the video showing.
                “Ohhhh, that!” Jason spat out with venom in his voice.
                Kneeling down beside Jennifer he smoothed some long hair away from her eyes and whispered, “Breathe, Jen, remember to breathe.”
                “You just don’t know, Jas.  My whole life is over.  Just bury me fast and comfort my family,” Jennifer murmured weakly.  Surely unconsciousness should overtake her any moment now.  It had to, she couldn’t bear breathing any more, any how. 
                “What?  Jen, don’t you want to see retribution?” he asked almost with a gleeful smile.
                Puzzled by this remark and the tone he used she looked at his mouth.  She sat up and stared at him, right in his beautiful brown eyes.  “What do you mean?”
                “There’s going to be a show down at the OK corral,” he answered as he forced her and Salina to scoot over on the bench seat so he could sit down beside Jennifer.
                Horror slowly filled her face as she stared a long time at Jason’s suddenly stern expression.  Several people in class had heard him and were looking their way.  Whispers abounded.
                “No!” Jennifer said aloud, “No, no, no!” 
                Well, doesn’t that just burn it! she decided with anger and fear.  Her only, true, dear male friend was gonna ruin his life and future to avenge her?  No way! 
                “You can’t do that Jason!  Please, please tell me you won’t get in a fight with that, that animal,” she pleaded, trying to get him to look directly at her.
                “Okay,” he answered much too quickly without looking her in the eyes.
                “I mean it, Jas!  Don’t you dare get involved in this.  It’s all my fault and I’ll have to handle it.  I couldn’t stand knowing I caused more harm than I already have.”  Her eyes pleaded with him.
                He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and smiled at her like she was a little girl and he was a parent.  “Jen, you still don’t understand.  The moment he refused to listen to your telling him to stop – well, that made it my business.”
                Shame filled her face as she acknowledged that he had watched and listened, rather carefully - to the video.  Her whole life would now be affected by what had happened in that mall, since everyone knows about it.  It was destroying her happiness for the last months of her senior year, and maybe it would follow her throughout the rest of her whole life. 
                She heaved a deep sigh of despair.  Now, her dear, precious Jason had decided to be her Champion.  He was gonna sully his clean hands to avenge her.  Oh, life was being unfair, especially to sweet, kind Jas.  Her hand caressed the side of his face.  “I don’t deserve you as a friend.  You, Jason Zonelli, are not going to retaliate anything for me.  You hear?”
                “Relax, it’s already been done,” he responded with a knowing smile.
                Jennifer didn’t think she could stand another moment without him explaining that one, but the teacher interrupted her thought, while loudly calling the class to order with his eyes staring directly at their table and particularly at her.
                “Shhhh,” Jason whispered at her.  He looked so smug.
                As soon as class was over and before Jason could dart away Jenny grabbed his shirt sleeve and